Exam techniques / Textual analysis

Stranger Things - Child worker scene

Media language:

Camera 
- Frame
- Angle
- Movement

Mise en scene
- CLAMPS

Sound
- Music
- Contrapuntal
- Diegetic
- Off screen
- Voice over
- Emotion
- Dialogue

Editing 
- Screen time
- Transitions
- Order of narrative
- Pace
- SFX

Question
- Explore the way that different groups of people are represented in Stranger Things

Quick gun shot with flash
11 gets
Forming our answer 

P - point

E - example from the scene

E - explore
c- camera
e- editing
m- mise en scene
s- sound

A - audience

REPEAT

Answer

Written by Mrs Field

P: In Stranger Things we see a counter typical representation (especially  considering the 1980's setting) in that we say empowered, aggressive women.

E: We see the social worker murder Benny, Eleven Kills two men, and although Nancy isn't aggressive, she does control the  scene with her and Steve

E: It is an interesting sub verse of stereotypes - The 1980's setting leads us to expect submissive, powerless women, but the 21'st Century construction transfers modern ideologies and values and empowers women

cems: When we first meet the social worker, we view her from a high angle shot, from the point of view of Benny. This reinforces the patriarchal hegemony which tricks us into thinking that she is a typical submissive woman. However when she shoots Benny, she is elevated onto an equal level with the other government officials, and is even empowered through a low angle shot. This reinforced by the editing - The screentime she is given compared to the (silent and nameless) male officials is significantly greater, therefore empowering her.

A: This shocks the audience, which is important for narrative but the Duffer Brothers are also trying to highlight the every day sexism in society - even though we are a modern audience, we fell into the trap of putting sexist assumptions onto the scene

Stranger things notes 

Camera

- Dr Brenners menacing entrance scans the room looking for eleven - genre and narrative. His suited and black coat presence exerts authority

Mise en scene

- Warm lighting in diner contrasts/juxtaposing coming in from the dark - perhaps foreshadowing her evils way

- Eleven hair/Benny yellow outfit - is non gender specific/androgynous - mysterious alien character. hasn't been well nurtured

- Nancy's room, warm/personal and intimate decor and another more threatening individual cold, dark outsiders

- Night time and rain/thunder and lighting makes it a challenge to hear, find will etc more mysterious

-  Yellow phone communication

Sound

Diegetic dialogue 'if you get one wrong you take an item of clothing off' his stereotypical cheeky, lusty jock type. Shows him to be a selfish character

Dialogue- Joyce and son are extremely close

Editing 

- Phone electrocutes  Joyce